IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v224y2018icp230-250.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization of water-energy nexus: A network representation-based graphical approach

Author

Listed:
  • Tsolas, Spyridon D.
  • Karim, M. Nazmul
  • Hasan, M.M. Faruque

Abstract

We present a scalable and systematic method for the design and optimization of complex water-energy nexus using graph theory-based network representation and a novel water-energy nexus (WEN) diagram. The graph-theoretic approach defines a nexus as a directed bipartite graph with water and energy flows. The network representation allows the decomposition of a complex nexus into its essential and redundant components. We show that for specified external grid demands, the optimal nexus configuration with minimum water and energy generation is the one without any redundant subgraphs. We then propose a systematic method to identify and eliminate redundant cycles, flows and entities within a nexus leading to (i) minimum generation/extraction of water and energy resources from the environment, or (ii) maximum yield of water and energy to meet external demands. Our approach is simple to implement and results in optimal nexus configurations that also satisfy operational constraints, restrictions and water quality specifications. The approach is demonstrated using case studies on water-energy nexus systems focusing on power generation, seawater desalination, groundwater and surface water at regional and national scales.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsolas, Spyridon D. & Karim, M. Nazmul & Hasan, M.M. Faruque, 2018. "Optimization of water-energy nexus: A network representation-based graphical approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 230-250.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:224:y:2018:i:c:p:230-250
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.094
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918306524
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.094?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Xiaodong & Vesselinov, Velimir V., 2016. "Energy-water nexus: Balancing the tradeoffs between two-level decision makers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 77-87.
    2. Hamiche, Ait Mimoune & Stambouli, Amine Boudghene & Flazi, Samir, 2016. "A review of the water-energy nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 319-331.
    3. Duan, Cuncun & Chen, Bin, 2017. "Energy–water nexus of international energy trade of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 725-734.
    4. Siddiqi, Afreen & Anadon, Laura Diaz, 2011. "The water-energy nexus in Middle East and North Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(8), pages 4529-4540, August.
    5. Fang, Delin & Chen, Bin, 2017. "Linkage analysis for the water–energy nexus of city," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 770-779.
    6. Chen, Shaoqing & Chen, Bin, 2016. "Urban energy–water nexus: A network perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 905-914.
    7. Deng, Runya & Xie, Lixin & Lin, Hu & Liu, Jie & Han, Wei, 2010. "Integration of thermal energy and seawater desalination," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 4368-4374.
    8. Koçar, Günnur & Civaş, Nilgün, 2013. "An overview of biofuels from energy crops: Current status and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 900-916.
    9. Miguel García-Rubio & Jorge Guardiola, 2012. "Desalination in Spain: A Growing Alternative for Water Supply," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 171-186.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ding, Tao & Liang, Liang & Zhou, Kaile & Yang, Min & Wei, Yuqi, 2020. "Water-energy nexus: The origin, development and prospect," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 419(C).
    2. Duan, Cuncun & Chen, Bin, 2020. "Driving factors of water-energy nexus in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    3. Wu, X.D. & Chen, G.Q., 2017. "Energy and water nexus in power generation: The surprisingly high amount of industrial water use induced by solar power infrastructure in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 125-136.
    4. Logan, Lauren H. & Stillwell, Ashlynn S., 2018. "Probabilistic assessment of aquatic species risk from thermoelectric power plant effluent: Incorporating biology into the energy-water nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 434-450.
    5. Sharifzadeh, Mahdi & Hien, Raymond Khoo Teck & Shah, Nilay, 2019. "China’s roadmap to low-carbon electricity and water: Disentangling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electricity-water nexus via renewable wind and solar power generation, and carbon capture and sto," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 31-42.
    6. Li, Xian & Yang, Lili & Zheng, Heran & Shan, Yuli & Zhang, Zongyong & Song, Malin & Cai, Bofeng & Guan, Dabo, 2019. "City-level water-energy nexus in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 827-834.
    7. Chen, Pi-Cheng & Alvarado, Valeria & Hsu, Shu-Chien, 2018. "Water energy nexus in city and hinterlands: Multi-regional physical input-output analysis for Hong Kong and South China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 986-997.
    8. Nawab, Asim & Liu, Gengyuan & Meng, Fanxin & Hao, Yan & Zhang, Yan, 2019. "Urban energy-water nexus: Spatial and inter-sectoral analysis in a multi-scale economy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 403(C), pages 44-56.
    9. Xiao, Zhengyan & Yao, Meiqin & Tang, Xiaotong & Sun, Luxi, 2019. "Identifying critical supply chains: An input-output analysis for Food-Energy-Water Nexus in China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 392(C), pages 31-37.
    10. Jin, Yi & Tang, Xu & Feng, Cuiyang & Höök, Mikael, 2017. "Energy and water conservation synergy in China: 2007–2012," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 206-215.
    11. Liu, Yitong & Chen, Bin & Wei, Wendong & Shao, Ling & Li, Zhi & Jiang, Weizhong & Chen, Guoqian, 2020. "Global water use associated with energy supply, demand and international trade of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    12. Wang, Saige & Liu, Yating & Chen, Bin, 2018. "Multiregional input–output and ecological network analyses for regional energy–water nexus within China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 353-364.
    13. Wang, Saige & Fath, Brian & Chen, Bin, 2019. "Energy–water nexus under energy mix scenarios using input–output and ecological network analyses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 827-839.
    14. Molinos-Senante, María & Guzmán, Catalina, 2018. "Reducing CO2 emissions from drinking water treatment plants: A shadow price approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 623-631.
    15. Meng, Fanxin & Liu, Gengyuan & Liang, Sai & Su, Meirong & Yang, Zhifeng, 2019. "Critical review of the energy-water-carbon nexus in cities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1017-1032.
    16. Ju, Yiyi, 2019. "Revealing the bilateral dependencies and policy implication of food production of Japan and China: From the perspective of Food-Energy-Water nexus," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 391(C), pages 29-39.
    17. Lv, J. & Li, Y.P. & Shan, B.G. & Jin, S.W. & Suo, C., 2018. "Planning energy-water nexus system under multiple uncertainties – A case study of Hebei province," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 389-403.
    18. Soprani, Stefano & Marongiu, Fabrizio & Christensen, Ludvig & Alm, Ole & Petersen, Kenni Dinesen & Ulrich, Thomas & Engelbrecht, Kurt, 2019. "Design and testing of a horizontal rock bed for high temperature thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Fernández-Blanco, R. & Kavvadias, K. & Hidalgo González, I., 2017. "Quantifying the water-power linkage on hydrothermal power systems: A Greek case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 240-253.
    20. Zhou, Yuanchun & Ma, Mengdie & Gao, Peiqi & Xu, Qiming & Bi, Jun & Naren, Tuya, 2019. "Managing water resources from the energy - water nexus perspective under a changing climate: A case study of Jiangsu province, China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 380-390.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:224:y:2018:i:c:p:230-250. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.